Wall bracket



March 23, 1965 w. KIRCH, JR

WALL BRACKET Filed Jan. 7. 1964 m N w m United States Patent Ofilice arrears Patented Mar. 23, 1%65 3,174,628 WALL BRACKET Wmter L. Kirch, Jr., 20 Carnrnerer Ave, East Rockaway, Nfif. Filed Jan. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 336,272

' 5 Claims. (Cl. 211-123) The present invention relates to supports and brackets and, more particularly, to an improved bracket of the type adapted for securement to a wall and having an element adapted to be arranged in active and inactive positions.

There often is a need in homes, ofiices, hotels, railway and steamship compartments, and other enclosures for a wall bracket adapted to support wearing apparel or equipment only at certain times. When such a bracket is not in use, it is desirable that it 'be inconspicuous and protrude from the wall a minimum distance but yet be sufliciently exposed to enable its function and purpose to be easily recognized by persons unfamiliar with such a bracket.

While various brackets of the foregoing type have been devised, they have been objectionable for one reason or another.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved wall bracket which overcomes the difficulties and objections heretofore encountered.

Another object is to provide such a bracket which is simple, sturdy and economical in construction.

Another object is to provide such a bracket which is constructed of a minimum number of parts and is readily arranged in active and inactive positions without eleborate instructions.

A further object is to provide such a bracket which is readily installed for various purposes.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects are generally accomplished by providing a Wall bracket which comprises an elongate tubular base having aperture means therein for receiving a screw or the like to effect securement of the base to a wall in vertical position and having a bore formed with an open upper end; and a bar or rod dimensioned to slidably fit into the bore, the bar having first and second portions disposed at right angles with respect to each other. The first bar portion is relatively short but is of a length to maintain the second bar portion in horizontal position when the first portion is fitted into the bore, and the second bar portion is relatively long to provide a support at a point spaced a substantial distance from the wall. The bore has a length to receive the long portion and conceal the same when fitted into the bore.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a wall bracket in accordance with the present invention in its active position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket in its inactive position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown a Wall bracket which generally comprises a base it) and a bar or rod 11.

The base is elongate and tubular and has a rectangular bore 12 formed with an open upper end for receiving the bar 11, as will be described hereinafter.

In order to secure the base flush against a wall W in a vertical position, as shown, the base is provided with a tab 14 extending upwardly above the upper end of the bore 12 and having an opening =15 therein for receiving a fastening element, such as a screw S threaded into the Wall. The base has a pair of aligned openings 16 at opposite sides (front and back) adjacent its lower end for receiving another screw 8 threaded into the wall, whereby the base is held securely against the wall in its vertical position.

The bar 11 also is rectangular in cross-section and is dimensioned to slidably fit into the open end of the bore 12 of the base. The bar has a first portion 17 and a second portion is disposed at right angles with respect to each other. The first portion 17 is relatively short but is of a length to extend downwardly into the bore 12 a sufiicient distance to rigidly maintain the second portion 18 in horizontal position when the bracket is in its active position as shown in PEG. 1. The second portion 18 is relatively long to provide a support at a point spaced a substantial distance from the wall.

As a specific example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention, the bar portion 17 has an approximate length of about (1) inch, and the bar portion 18 has an approximate length of about seven and five-eighths (7%") inches. The bar "ill is formed of five-sixteenths inch, square stock, and the bore 12 is dimensioned to enable the bar portions to be slidably fitted therein with a minimum of clearance, consisting of one-half inch by one-sixteenth inch /2" X A square tubular stock. The bore 12 of the base It) is of a length to receive and conceal the bar portion '18 when the bracket is in its inactive position, as shown in FIG. 2. For example, the distance between the openings "16 and the upper end of the bore need only slightly exceed the length of the bar portion 18.

Pivotal movement of the bar portions is prevented by the use of a bar and bore having a square or other po1ygonal cross-section. A square cross-section is preferred because the bar portion 17 can also be positioned against the wall, that is, parallel with the wall, instead of projecting outwardly from the wall as shown in FIG. 2.

When the bar 11 is arranged as shown in FIG. 1, downward movement of the portion 17 into the bore is limited by engagement of the underside of the bar portion 13 with the base at 1); and when the bar is arranged as shown in FIG. 2, downward movement of the portion 28 into the bore is limited by engagement of the underside of the bar portion 17 with the base at 19.

Preferably, the bar portion 13 is formed with one or more upwardly facing recesses 28 (FIG. 1) for the reception of the hook of a clothes hanger (not shown). If desired, the bar portion l7 also may be formed with an upwardly facing recess 2?; (FIG. 2) which serves as a wall hook for a clothes hanger, or for hanging a picture or a mirror when the bracket is inactive, whereby the bracket is concealed.

The present invention also contemplates that two or more brackets may be mounted on a wall with the bar portions 13 spaced apart and in a common horizontal plane so as to provide support for a temporary shelf. Furthermore, two or more brackets could be so arranged to provide a baggage rack or to take the place of the foldable luggage unpacking and packing table found in hotel rooms.

The base it? and t e bar 11 may be constructed of any suitable metal or plastic resin material depending upon the load to be supported by the bracket. Likewise, the length of the longer bar portion 18 may be varied to fulfill its intended function, and the length of the bore 12 may be varied accordingly to conceal the bar portion 18 when in its inactive position.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved wall bracket which is simple and economical in construction and can be used advantageously in a number of ways to perform useful functions.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein, without'departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and Without sacrificing any of its advantages, it-is to be understood that' all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A wall bracket comprising an elongated tubular base having aperture means therein for receiving an element to effect securement of said base to a wall in vertical posi-' tion and having a bore formed with an open upper end; and a bar dimensioned to slidably fit into the open end of said bore, said bar having a first portion and a second portion disposed at right angles with respect to each other, said first portion being relatively short but of a length to maintain said second portion in horizontal position when said first portion is fitted into said bore and said second 7 portion being relatively long to provide a support at a 7 point spaced a substantial distance from the wall, said bore being of a length to receive and conceal said second portion when fitted into said bore and said bore having cross-sectional dimensions slightly larger than cross-sectionaldimensions of said bar whereby each of said portions of said bar is solely and embracingly supported in said bore by said tubular base.

2. A bracket according to claim 1, wherein said aperture means include a tab extending upwardly from the upper end of said bore and having an opening therein.

3. A bracket according to claim 2, wherein said aper- 4 ture means include a pair of aligned openings at the opposite side of said base adjacent the lower end thereof.

4. A'bracket according to claim 1, wherein said bore and said bar are polygonal in cross-section.

5. A bracket according to claim 1, wherein said second bar portion has a recess therein which faces upwardly when said second bar portion is disposed in a horizontal position.'

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,496,739 6/24 Ranson 211100 1,530,407 3/25 Ranson 211-100 2,424,646 7/47 Berman 21l-100 2,487,388 11/49 Sherwood 211100 2,526,285 10/50 Schuyler 21l123 2,539,803 1/51 Westberg 211-405 2,626,714 1/53 Rover 21186 2,643,000 6/53 Morrison 211-100 2,647,642 8/53 Kosash 211-100. 2,916,158 12/59 Vosbikian et a1. 211-86 3,076,556 2/63 White 211-105 FOREIGN PATENTS 451,728 2/13 France.

82,634 10/53 Norway. 218,616 4/ 42 Switzerland.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WALL BRACKET COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR BASE HAVING APERTURE MEANS THEREIN FOR RECEIVING AN ELEMENT TO EFFECT SECUREMENT OF SAID BASE TO A WALL IN VERTICAL POSITION AND HAVING A BORE FORMED WITH AN OPEN UPPER END; AND A BAR DIMENSIONED TO SLIDABLY FIT INTO THE OPEN END OF SAID BORE, SAID BAR HAVING A FIRST PORTIN AND A SECOND PORTION DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, SAID FIRST PORTION BEING RELATIVELY SHORT BUT OF A LENGTH TO MAINTAIN SAID SECOND PORTION IN HORIZONTAL POSITION WHEN SAID FIRST PORTION IS FITTED INTO SAID BORE AND SAID SECOND PORTION BEING RELATIVELY LONG TO PROVIDE A SUPPORT AT A POINT SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE WALL, SAID BORE BEING OF A LENGTH TO RECEIVE AND CONCEAL SAID SECOND PORTION WHEN FITTED INTO SAID BORE AND SAID BORE HAVING CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSIONS SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSIONS OF SAID BAR WHEREBY EACH OF SAID PORTIONS OF SAID BAR IS SOLELY AND EMBRACINGLY SUPPORTED IN SAID BORE BY SAID TUBULAR BASE. 